Saturday, November 21, 2009

Here in 25 chapters, 100,000 words, and 120 illustrations is How to See the World. Written by an independent traveler of 35 countries via eight economical tours, this complete online guide has tips, commentary, and humor for travelers of every kind.It contains no advertising or commercial contracts.

Part Three: Compendium

Addendum

IntroductionI WROTEHow to See the World because too many people are missing the experience of world travel, mainly because they don't realize how easy, fun, and economical it is to pack a bag and just go.

I also wrote this book because how one travels is more important than where one travels. Not only is low budget independent travel the best way to experience other cultures on an intimate, participatory level, but it's a great way to learn about yourself.
And while the subtitle On $25 a Day or Less suggests an unrealistic figure for many readers, it's there to make clear that world travel is at least a possibility for almost anyone living in a free society, and to describe the book I knew how to write after eight independent tours through thirty-five countries.
In Part One you will learn:

How to meet people

How to communicate simply and effectively

How to get cheap airline tickets

About all kinds of accommodation, including hostels, backpacker hotels, pensions, private homes, and campgrounds

Interesting passport and visa information, hitchhiking realities, and more

Part Two discusses:

Walking and backpacks

Efficient travel clothing, and tips for doing laundry on the road

Twenty essential items

How to select a good sleeping bag

For those who go the camping route, how to choose a tent and stove

How to organize for less stress and more fun

Part Three is a compendium of tips, considerations, and poems from myself, other travelers, and literature. Topics include street food, attitude, telephone and mail, hustlers, drugs, car travel, camels, trail tips, favorite countries, itineraries, etc.

There is also a bibliography of recommended reading, a comment form for your input, and eight useful checklists so you won't forget much or burden yourself unnecessarily.
This book will save you time and money, and help you travel more safely. It may also encourage you to have some of the best and greatest times of your life. I wish you informative reading and happy traveling.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Feel the sands, the desert heat and the night chill, ride the dunes in Thar and ride open roads that disappear into the horizon. Discover a Fort made from Jurassic stone, ancient trees that have turned to stone, Palace that some say is as beautiful (if not more) as Taj, hypnotic stunning Haveli, the Battle of Braves where a 100 defeated 1000s. Ride the road to Pakistan but be careful - don’t cross over, walk through a sea of rats, go flat out on salt flats, eat rich food, stay in the lap of luxury but don’t miss out on the camp, the folks and their dances and songs. Experience an age old culture in festive mood in all its splendor and colour… a Royal Ride through the Sands of Time.

Click here to download the registration form for Royal Enfield tour of Rajasthan.

1. At ground level the most important thing is your tyres and your wheels. Ensure that you have adequate tread on them. We recommend you start the ride with a brand new set of tyres and tubes; you are less likely to face punctures etc.

2. Get the rims balanced (this will prevent breaking of spokes and unnecessary wobbles that could spoil your bike's ride and handling). When you are getting your wheels balanced make sure that the spokes are not protruding from inside the rim. If they are they could puncture the tube from inside. After this, ensure that there is a rubber strip (good condition) around the inside of the rim. When you disassemble the wheels, check the wheel bearings as well.

3. Inspect and make sure that your bike has only genuine OE parts, especially hubs, spokes, rims and other engine components. We cannot provide support for modified items and in such case you are requested to carry your own spares. We can make arrangements to carry them in the service truck.

4. Get your shock absorbers inspected. They should be in top working order. Check the bushes for the rear shock absorbers and replace if necessary.

5. Check condition of front fork oil seals and replace if needed. Make sure that there is no crack on the fork bottom tube. If your springs have sagged or your main tube has worn out get them replaced.

6. Check the rear swing arm bush and replace if needed.

7. Check your chain and rear sprocket for wear. If you find that there are less than four notch adjustments to go on your chain adjuster cam, replace your chain and both your sprockets.

8. Your bike's clutch is really crucial for this trip, so make sure that your clutch is in good order and adjusted properly without the trace of any drag, slip etc. When you open your clutch cover, also check the primary chain and the adjuster. Do not use any kind of additional insert under the chain adjuster. If the adjuster has reached its limit replace the primary chain.

9. Check your battery and the earthing connections. If you have any history of electrical trouble, be sure that the problem is completely solved. The vibrations, dust and maybe water that riders are likely to encounter on the route could further accentuate existing problems.

10. Check for play in the steering column and replace the ball race joints if necessary.

11. Check all the rubber components like carburetor hose, fuel lines, air filter rubber etc for cracks and tears and replace if in doubt.

12. Check all cables and if found bent of frayed, replace immediately. Do not use oil in friction free cables.

13. Finally tighten all the nuts and bolts and if it is found to slip or the threads are damaged replace the relevant parts.

Engine

This is a very crucial part.

If your bike is working fine let it be. It would be a good idea to do a weekend trip to try it out and see how it behaves. It would be a good idea to ride a new bike and make sure that your bike is up to the mark. If there is any doubt please visit your Royal Enfield showroom. Do not leave the fixing of your bike to the last min and start the trip with an untested bike.

Things to avoid on the bike

1. Anything that is likely to take a beating from rough roads and vibrations, this includes: â€¢ Extra lights â€¢ Extra horns â€¢ Extra mirrors â€¢ Heavy after market horns â€¢ Side boxes â€¢ any other unnecessary add-ons

2. Non standard high rise or low handlebars.

3. Alloy wheels.

4. Some number plates fitted on the front mudguard are likely to break the headlamp at full travel.

5. Smaller wheels if they drastically reduce your ground clearance.

6. Imported street tyres, as these could puncture and suffer for grip on dirt surfaces.

7. Extended front forks.

8. Modified swing arms.

9. Shortened or extended chassis, chain.

10. You should either remove any non standard item from your bike or be prepared to service it on your own.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Consider this. Last Saturday, a small group of friends — Dug, Kenny, Dan, Racer — and I went mountain biking. It was a seven-hour epic circumnavigation of Mount Timpanogos: thirty seven miles, the first 22 of which took almost six hours (yes, we averaged about four miles per hour) because it was so brutally steep.

Dug and Racer had their cameraphones with them, and so got a few pictures.

The ride starts with a ride along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, which connects to Grove — a narrow, steep, shale-strewn trail with a clff going up to your left and, often, a cliff going down to your right.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Dates:

Last date for Registration is 31th May 2009. The YHAI reserves the right to close the registration early or extend the date of registration.Date of announcement for selected Participants:- 6th June 2009Last date of submission of the Participation fee:- 15th June 2009Expedition starts on: August 24th.

The actual route may change depending upon geographical, social and environmental conditions.Duration: 17 days. Participants will report at Base Camp, International Youth Hostel, New Delhi on 24th August 2009. After expedition, they will leave from New Delhi on 09th September 2009.

Criteria for Selection:• Preferred Age Group: 20 Years – 50 years• The participant (male/female) should be in excellent physical and medical fitness.• They must have a taste for adventure and willing to live life in the rough and tough terrain.

ROUTE:Kullu-Manali - Solang Nala-Marhi-Rohtang Pass-Sishu-Jispa-Zing Zing Bar-Sarchu-Whisky Nala-Pang- Debring-Rumtse-Choglamsar-Leh - South Pullu - Khardungla Pass-LehThe actual route may change depending upon geographical, social and environmental conditions.Duration: 17 days. Participants will reach at Base Camp, Seobagh, Kullu on 19th August 2009. After concluding the expedition, they will leave from Leh on 04th September 2009.

How to reach Base Camp at Seobagh,Kullu-ManaliKullu-Manali is well connected from Delhi, Chandigarh & Pathankot by Bus, Train & Air. Nearest Railway station is Chandigarh & the nearest Airport is Bhuntar(Kullu). The base camp at Youth Hostel Seobagh is 3 km from Kullu bus stand on left bank, near Jairu Mineral Water Plant. Tel. no. +91-1902-230113.

Criteria for Selection:Preferred Age Group: 20 Years – 50 yearsThe participant (male/female) should be in excellent physical and medical fitness.

Friday, February 27, 2009

The death of a leopard near Amdalli village in Karwar taluk, which was noticed on Saturday by the forest officials, clearly indicates that wildlife is threatened in Uttara Kannada district.

In fact, continued human interference in the forest has made life miserable for wild animals in their natural habitat.

Cases of wild animals sneaking into the human habitat in search of food are on the rise. These animals are either killed by people before being noticed by the forest officials or die of starvation or disease.

The forest region of Uttara Kannada district is no longer safe for wildlife. The rich vegetation of the district is under heavy pressure today than ever before. For instance the once beautiful wooded hills between Karwar and Honnavar have been mercilessly mutilated.

According to the Uttara Kannada Gazetteer, the rate of denudation of forest is four times the rate of replanting in the district.

Large forest areas had been destroyed in the past three decades in the district licitly and illicitly. The statistics provided by the forest department indicate that around 10.5 lakh hectares of forest area had been lost for various reasons.

This included nearly 20,000 hectares of area lost under the Kali hydel project, 50,000 hectares released for agriculture and 26,713 hectares for iron ore mining. These lost regions provided a safe shelter for elephants, bison, tigers, king cobras, leopards, black panthers and spotted deer to name a few. These statistics exclude the forest encroachment, which is about 26,000 hectares and also illicit felling by poachers. In fact at least once in a week the local papers carry reports on forest smuggling. Added to these, indiscriminate poaching of animals has proved disastrous for the survival of these animals.The forest officials complain there are not enough staff. One guard has to manage around 10 sq km of forest region. Moreover, the staff are not provided modern weapons to match those of smugglers.

People allege that many forest officials are hand in glove with the smugglers and funds provided for forestation are misused.

The forest development programme launched under the assistance of Overseas Development Agency of UK, which envisaged the joint management of the forest by the forest department and the villagers, proved a failure.

The village forest panchayats formed under the programme have become defunct today, thanks to the apathy of the forest officials, who did not want others to participate in the management of the forest.

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About Me

A Good Friend for my Friends, with Deep Trust and Reverence in the beauty and Creations of Mother Nature, A humane lawyer for my clients, A patient listener and a Sincere Problem Solver, Optimistic about the Human Race and Cynical about myself, A Believer in Supernatural and the Para-normal, Always on the Look-out for Innocence and the Elusive Pure Universal Consciousness, with Inbuilt Respect in Wisdom, Experience, Knowledge and religion, and A total Family Man now....